On Monday, Governor Walz commented on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s claims of hesitation to send in the National Guard to Minneapolis on May 27 with this statement, “I don’t think the mayor knew what he was asking for…I think the mayor said, ‘I request the National Guard, whew, this is great. We’re going to have massively trained troops.’ No. You’re going to have 19-year-olds who are cooks.”

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) responded to his statement with the following:

“ I am deeply disappointed in the comments made by Governor Walz yesterday, and the insensitivity of his remarks about the responsibilities we charge to every member of the Minnesota National Guard. 

Minnesota is fortunate to be home to one of the best National Guards in the nation, and each its members has been trained rigorously for combat and their job duties. For Governor Walz to comment that our Guard is comprised of “19-year cooks” who are not equipped to handle riots in Twin Cities is entirely disingenuous and condescending.

These same “cooks”  have been recently deployed to missions in Africa, and have consistently risen to the challenge whenever called on by our state and nation. Our National Guard members are willing to put themselves in harm’s way in defense of us, and they deserve our respect.”

“I hope that in the future, Governor Walz will show them the regard that they deserve.”